OU signees getting Alamo Bowl practice time
It was something that started last season, and OU took full advantage of it. The NCAA started to allow signees the chance to practice with the team on campus and on-site of its bowl location.
You can’t play in the game, but the few days gives the guys a taste of what’s in store in the weeks, months and years ahead with OU.
For the Sooners this time around, it’s seven guys who will be taking advantage of that opportunity: quarterback Mike Hawkins, running back Xavier Robinson, defensive backs Jaydan Hardy and Eli Bowen and defensive linemen Nigel Smith, Wyatt Gilmore and Jayden Jackson.
Head coach Brent Venables talked about each of the signees earlier this week. OU takes on No. 14 Arizona in the Valero Alamo Bowl next week.
CB Eli Bowen
“Eli Bowen, who’s one of the best football players in America. It’ll be really cool to have him along with his brother here in the secondary. But I’ll be honest, and I told Peyton (Bowen) this a year ago: ‘If you don’t come, I’m still recruiting your brother.’ I told Eli, ‘Even if we don’t get your brother, I’m still coming after you.’ He has probably had as much ball disruption plays the last few years of any defensive back that I’ve seen. Just a great, great player.”
S Jaydan Hardy
“Jaydan Hardy, he played everything for his team there at The Lew (Lewisville High). It’s one of the best programs in the state of Texas. He can do it all on both sides of the ball. Just a very natural player. His intelligence is beyond his years.”
RB Xavier Robinson
“Our Gatorade Player of the Year and really excited about Xavier Robinson. Back to back state champions there at Carl Albert. Love the environment that he’s coming from. It’s a winning, tough-minded environment. It’s about accountability and discipline. They get the most out of their guys. These guys coming out of Carl Albert understand what’s expected day in and day out.”
DL Nigel Smith
“But this is a group of guys that have been incredibly well coached. Whether, again, you look at Nigel Smith from Melissa. You drive on down I-35 headed south and you come to Melissa and the new stadium’s that there, it’s very reminiscent of what you saw at Allen, Texas, several years ago, and the commitment to football in the great state of Texas is a very real thing. But the depth and level of the excellence of the coaching.”
DE Wyatt Gilmore
“One of the top players, if not the top player in the state of Minnesota, in Wyatt Gilmore. We identified Wyatt a long time ago, as a guy, man, he’s got all the stuff that the great ones have. He’s got a motor, he’s got instincts, he’s got a great get-off, got a great body, really refined. Works hard at all the fundamental things.”
DT Jayden Jackson
“Obviously, we’re signing a couple of guys from IMG. We’ve had great experience through the years. Jaden Jackson and David Stone, they’re going to be very well-coached and have a little bit more of the mindset of what the routine in college looks like. The commitment, and those types of things that day in and day out requires.”
QB Michael Hawkins
“You’ve got two really good young quarterbacks, Michael Hawkins and Brendan Zurbrugg from Ohio, that bring a wealth of experience at the quarterback (position) at the high school level. They’re incredibly talented guys. They’ve got all the right stuff to them from a leadership, instincts, humility and toughness standpoint.”
